NYC Stowaway's Parisian Mishap: Return Flight Disruption

A woman who stowed away on a Delta flight from NYC to Paris earlier this week caused a major disruption on her return flight. She was removed from Delta Flight No. 265 by French law enforcement before takeoff on Saturday, leading to a more than two-hour delay.

The Stowaway's Journey:

The woman, identified as 57-year-old Svetlana Dali, a Philadelphia resident with a green card and Russian national, initially evaded security at JFK Airport. She boarded the flight without a boarding pass and was discovered when a flight attendant noticed her frequent trips to the lavatories.

Upon arrival in Paris, French police apprehended her. On her return flight, she became disruptive, prompting further intervention from authorities.

Security Failures Under Scrutiny:

The incident has raised serious questions about security protocols. The TSA confirmed she passed through a body scanner but bypassed identification checks. How she boarded the plane without a boarding pass remains unclear, with both French law enforcement and the TSA investigating.

While federal charges are unlikely, she could face state charges in New York.

Passenger Account:

Passenger Rob Jackson described the crew’s unusual behavior and the surprising revelation of a stowaway on board after landing in Paris.

The Aftermath:

The woman remains in French custody and will not be returning to the US immediately. The investigation continues to determine how she bypassed security and what consequences she will face.